Sheriff 0-2 Manchester United: Ronaldo off the mark in routine Europa League win

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season as Manchester United got their Europa League campaign up and running with a 2-0 win at Sheriff on Thursday.

Ronaldo, selected to lead the line as Erik ten Hag kept rotation to a minimum against the side that stunned Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League, drilled home a first-half penalty to make it 2-0 to United, after Jadon Sancho had opened the scoring.

Having moved onto 699 club goals with his spot-kick, Ronaldo missed a chance to reach the 700 milestone after the break, but United produced a controlled performance to see out the victory.

United were in need of three points following last week’s home defeat to Real Sociedad in their opening Group E game.

Although Sheriff started well, United took the lead with their first real attack 17 minutes in when Sancho turned on Christian Eriksen’s pass and tucked a neat finish into the bottom-right corner.

Iyayi Atiemwen dragged wide of the bottom-left corner with David de Gea unsighted, before Stjepan Radeljic denied Sancho a second with a heroic goal-line clearance.

United were soon gifted an opportunity to double their lead by Patrick Kpozo, who was tempted into a foul by Diogo Dalot.

Ronaldo, who has had to settle for a substitute role in United’s last four Premier League matches, lashed his penalty straight down the middle.

Goal number 144 in UEFA’s club competitions

 Cristiano Ronaldo #UEL https://t.co/KmrtbXvMva pic.twitter.com/1UGt13TH6D

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 15, 2022

Radeljic was again on hand to clear as Ronaldo attacked the back post after the break, before Rasheed Akanbi almost caught De Gea out with a sumptuous lob from long range.

Ronaldo side-footed wide of the top-right corner from 18 yards out as a chance for his 700th club goal went begging, though United had little trouble in sealing a fifth win in their last six outings.

What does it mean? United up and running

While Ten Hag’s main focus will be on re-establishing United as Premier League contenders, the strong side he fielded on Thursday demonstrated his desire to bounce back from last week’s loss to La Real.

With Sheriff having picked up a win on matchday one, United’s triumph saw them retain their status as favourites to progress from the group.

Ten Hag, meanwhile, has lost just two of his 21 away matches in major competitions as a manager (W13 D6), against Getafe in February 2020 and Liverpool in December 2020.

Ronaldo close to another landmark

Ronaldo, a five-time Champions League winner with a record 140 goals in Europe’s premier club competition, never seemed thrilled by the prospect of featuring in the Europa League this campaign.

After failing to secure an exit in the recent transfer window, Ronaldo had gone seven games without a goal, but he took his chance when it came on Thursday.

It might have been his 699th goal at club level, yet it was his first in the Europa League.

Sancho responds to England snub

Sancho’s improved domestic form led to speculation he would be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures, but the former Borussia Dortmund winger was left out.

He responded in fine fashion, however, turning to drill home his third goal of the campaign in all competitions, moving him level with Marcus Rashford. No United player has scored more.

What’s next?

Domestic postponements owing to the death of Queen Elizabeth II mean United are without a Premier League fixture until they face rivals and champions Manchester City on October 2. Sheriff host Zimbru Chisinau in the Moldovan top-flight on Sunday.